If you’re looking for more tips on how to negotiate salary for a new job, you should check out this article from Cash Money Life about negotiating salary.
Things to remember when negotiating salary:
- Always make sure that you wait to start talking salary. Don’t jump the gun and look like all you care about is the money. If the money is the only reason that you want the job, you shouldn’t be applying for it.
- Go into the interview knowing what you are worth. My tagline is “earn what you are worth”, but first you need to define that. I’ll have a more in depth post about how to gauge what you are worth.
- Factor in benefits when negotiating a salary package. You have to think in terms of a comprehensive compensation package, rather than just a dollar figure. The easiest way to ask for a higher starting salary is to cut some of the other benefits included in the package.
The most important thing to remember is that you shouldn’t limit yourself to a certain starting salary just because that’s what everyone else starts at. You are worth something to that employer, and you bring a unique skill set to the table, so ask for a salary based on the value you bring to the company, not solely based on precedent.
3 responses so far ↓
1 Patrick // Feb 18, 2008 at 8:59 am
Great tips! I had three interviews with this particular company, and we didn’t speak salary once. I am waiting on them to make an official offer, at which point I plan on negotiating. I have a good idea of what my skills are worth in my market, and I have a rough idea of what this position will offer in terms of salary and other compensation. I hope it goes well!
And thanks for the mention!
2 Erik Folgate // Feb 18, 2008 at 9:55 am
Good luck! It’s a delicate situation, but you sound like you have a good grasp of it.
3 Writer's Coin // Feb 18, 2008 at 12:23 pm
I have to disagree with #1. If you are not getting paid what you deserve you need to speak up or management may continue to undervalue you. I complained 3 months after I started a job once and they had a meeting, discussed me, and came back with a higher offer (not what I was asking for, but still). How could you ask for more money three months into a new job? Easy: Once you realize the job you do is worth far more than what you were offered (reality sets in), it’s plain to see.
If I wouldn’t have said anything, why would they give me more money? The only way some companies learn to appreciate you is if you put some pressure on them. Of course, you have to be worth it too.
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